Loop-forming mechanism for motion-picture apparatus.



A. S. HOWELL. LOOP FORMING MECHANISM FOR MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.27. 1915.

1,267, 11 3. Patented May 28, 1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET ,1 l'lllC i 1101".

0111931" amweu A. S. HOWELL. LOOP FORMING MECHANISM FOR MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS. APPLICATION HLED SEPT. 27, I915.

1,267, 11 3. Patented May 28, 191&

6 6 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Z0 Z2 /Q /9 ALL I gig E 2' Z? Z; 3 3 ,M

iii! 7 JIDQHEK" O 37101119111 IO 6 zm' fi r ALBERT S. HOWELL, OF, CHICAGO, ILLINOI or cn'rcaoo, rumors, A

S, ASSIGNOB TO BELL CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

& HOWELL COMPANY,

LOOP-FORMING MECHANISM FOR MOTION-PICTURE APPARATUS.

ori inal application filed afilir 2o,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 28,- 1918.

1915. Serial No. 52,838.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALBERT S. Hownnn, a citizen of the United States, of the cit of Chicago, county of 00k, and State of llinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Loop-Formlng Mechanism for Motion-Picture Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the art of cinematography and, more particularly, to the aparatus used in photographing, printing and projecting the film employed in producingmotion pictures. Specifically stated, my invention pertains to certain devices for forming a loop in the film strip prior to its transit past the aperture in the film passage. However, for convenience in illustrating and describing my loop-forming device, I ave shown the same embodied in a film-printing machine such as disclosed in 'an application for Letters Patent of the United States, filed by me the twentieth day of April, 1915, Serial Number 23,020, for an improvement in control means for motion picture printing machines, and out of which my present application has been divided, but it will be understood that my loop-forming device may be readily applied to motion picture cameras and projecting machines without material departure.

The primary object of my invention, as before stated, is the provision of suitable devices that are adapted to be manipulated for the purpose of forming a loop of predetermined length in the film strip prior to its passage in front of the aperture element of a suitable motion picture apparatus. Another object of my invention is the provision of a loop-former that is adapted, after forming the loop, to be moved so as to engage the primary feed sprocket of the machine and when so positioned, to retain or assist in retaining the film strip in engagement with said feed sprocket, thereby preventing accidental displacement thereof. Other objects of my invention are the provision of a loopformer that is effective in its operation, simple and easy to manipulate, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

I prefer to accomplish the divers objects of my invention by the means and in the and a resident manner hereinafter fully described and as more particularly pointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein Figure 1 is a vertical side elevation of a fragmentary portion of a cinematographic machine (printer) showing the application of my loop-former thereto.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the .loopforming device.

Fig. 3 is anenlarged side elevation of my loop-former, showing the relative position of the parts thereof when forming a loop in the film.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, it will beobserved the negative film 5 and the positive film 6 are reeled upon the usual film spools (not shown) journaled on a vertically disposed plate 7 adjacent to and secured to the upper portion of the standard 8 of the machine. From their spools these films are passed over suitable flanged guides or rollers 9 and 10, respectively, from which they converge toward and engage a feeding sprocket 11 mounted on the end of a horizontally disposed shaft 12 that is actuated through suitable mechanism by the driving element of the machine. In order to retain the film upon this feed sprocket 11 and to prevent its accidental removal therefrom, I have journaled a pair of suitable clamping rollers 18 in the outer movable portion of a swinging lever 14, said rollers being constructed 1915, Serial 110. 23,020. Divided and this application fled September 27, I r i so as to accommodate the teeth of the feed sprocket 11 by forming shallow annular recesses 15 therein adjacent their opposite ends. Lever 1a is piv-otally mounted at one end on a stub 16 projecting laterally from a bearing plate 17 secured to the outer face of anirregularly shaped facing or covering plate 18 (see Fig. 3) and it is adapted to be retained in a raised position away from the sprocket or in lowered position against said sprocket by means of a pivoted springpressed rod 19 connected to the free end of said lever 14. A swivel bearing 20 is provided in which this rod 19 is slidably enlarged head 22 in order to limit the movelit) ment of the rod in one direction, while a coiled expansion spring 23 surrounds the end of said rod between its bearlng and its gpposite end which is connected with the lever M. The swivel bearing 20 is so positioned that when the lever M is moved past the dead-center thereof, in other words when the point of connection between re 19 and lever 14 has passed to one side or the other of an imaginary line striking through the axes of the swivel bearing 20 and stub 16', the s ring 23 will exert its force to move the ever 14 to the limit of its swing in that particular direction.

The means for forming the loo oi film preferably comprises a lever 2% (similar to lever 14:) that is journaled on-a stub 25 projecting laterally -from the plate 17 adjacent stub 16 and has a grooved roller 26 jour-' naled on its outer movable end. A spring actuated rod 27 is connected to the outer free end of lever 2% for the purpose of retaining said roller 26 in contact with the lower segment of s rocket ll until it leaves the same, or it may be moved away from said sprocket when it is desired to form a loop in the negative film. This lever and roller (2%26) are adapted to perform the double function of retaining the ribbon of negative film in engagement with the sprocket through the lower segment of the latter and also of predetermining the length of loop necessary to provide for the proper feeding of the film. to the film passage. 28, through which it travels past the aperture element 29 of the machine.

Rod'27 is slidably mounted in a swivel bearing 30 disposed upon and projecting from the plate 17 adjacent stub 25 and has its free end connected with the free end of lever 24:. The opposite end of this rod 27 projects through Its bearing 30 and is screwthreaded to receive an ad ustable head 31, the turning of which latter adjusts the length of outward movement of the lever 2e away from the feed sprocket 11. In order to force the lever and rod to the limit of their movements, either toward or away from the feed sprocket, the latter is surrounded with a coiled expansion spring between its bearing and its connection with the lever 24.

The film loop is readily made by placing the film over the roller 26 after it leaves the feed sprocket 11 while the lever 24; is in its opened or extended position, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and then threading the film through the fihn passage in front of the aperture of the machine. The shuttle or other devices for moving the film past the aperture are synchronized with the other parts of the mechanism so that the teeth thereof are adapted to stop always at the same point and, after the loop has been formed and the film passage gate closed to secure the film-therein, the lever 24: is swung shown in Fig. 3 of the insane upwardly against the feed sprocket It, as drawings, leaving a loop of film of a predetermined length between the sprocket and the aperture of the apparatus. By adjusting the head on the end of the rod 27, the length oi the outward throw of the lever 24 and consequently the length of the film loop may be determined an adjusted to a nicety.

In the above description and the forming a part hereof, l have disclosed numerous specific devices for carrying out the objects or my invention which, oi course, may be readily modified or refine-d for the purpose of adapting the mechanism to divers types of machineaall vious to others skilled in the art of cinematography. ll desire it understood, therefore, that all such modifications or refinements thereof are contemplated within the drawings of which will be obscope of my invention as expressed inthe appended claims, and T do not herein we t myself to any particular type of apparatus to which my applicable.

invention is What I clalm as new is 1. In apparatus for handling al u. a sprocket, a member adapted to be moved film whereby a loop of predetermined length.

is formed in the film, devices adapted to adjust the range of movement of said member, and means whereby said member is retained at either end of its movement.

3. In apparatus for handling film a film sprocket, a member adapted to be moved across the film path adjacent said sprocket whereby a loop is formed in the film, a rod connected at one end to the movable end of said member, a swivel to which the opposite end of said rod is connected, means adapted to adjust the length of said rod between its points of connection, and means whereby said member is retained at either end of its movement.

4. In apparatus for handling film a film sprocket, an arm pivoted adjacent thereto, a rod pivotally secured to the movable end of said arm, a swivel to which said rod is connected located adjacent the path of said arm and out of alinement with the bearin of said sprocket and arm, and means wheresprocket,-

1,ae7,41a a a rod fivota lly secured to the movable en d Signed at Chicago, county of Cook and of sai arm, a swivel to which said rod 1s State of Illinois, the 21st day of September, 10

connected locezed1 adjacent the1 13th bgf said 1915.

arm and out 0 a inement Wit e ar'mg 1 5 of said sprocket and arm, and a 00' ALBERT HOWELL spring surrounding said rod and adapted to Witnesses: hold said arm at the limit of movement per- E. K. LUNDY J r., mitted by said rod. WM. HAROLD ICIELMAN. 

